I Ate WHAT???

Confessions of an Everyday Organic:

Yes, it's true; I ate Smucker's dessert topping out of the jar with a spoon.

Let me explain. It's the 4th of July, we're all at the lake...eating...and just like everyone else, I wanted dessert. Apple Pie or Key Lime Pie but I don't like pie. "What do you mean, you don't like PIE?!" bursts out my sister and then adds, "I make Mom's Apple Pie every Thanksgiving!".

"You've known me for 41 years and I have never liked pie. It has nothing to do with your pie, Mom's pie, or anyone's pie. I don't like cooked soft fruit so I don't like pie."

Now that we have that cleared up, what's for dessert? Everyone was putting fudge topping on their pie and the jar was about finished. In my 42 years, one thing is for sure, I have always been a chocolate lover. I took the jar, a spoon and sat down with everyone to eat my dessert.

My Dad just starred at me, took the jar out of my hand, and read the label. NO WAY. He hasn't read one nutrition label his whole life until now. "I'd like to know what your readers would think if they knew you were eating this. In fact, I challenge you to blog about this". Spoken confidently from a man who just a few years ago was asking "blog, what is that and how are you gonna make a living off a blog?" And "Honey, I've eaten this way for x amount of years. I'm fine." Anyway, so here I am making my confession.

My family proceeded to read the ingredients out loud and I will list them in order for you here: milk, sugar, high fructose corn syrup (b/c sugar isn't sweet enough apparently...), partially hydrogenated oil (I could've done w/o knowing that one), and finally cocoa, diglicerides and sitrates.

I am not proud, but I am honest. We all break down and get desperate. Point is, be an Everyday Organic and do the best you can everyday. It's another day in North Georgia and I'm planning on doing better. I'm up for dinner tonight so I can tell you I didn't buy a frozen lasagna for 17 people, I am making turkey lasagna from scratch.

Happy 4th!

Jambu shoe review

Remember those Jambu walking shoes I bought? Didn't know it at the time but they absorb moisture. Good thing because it's rained off and on since we've got here. Not only that, rubber doesn't smell when it gets wet.

As far as comfort, my feet and back feel great. A new pair of legs might be nice...no wait, with all this exercise, I'm keepin' the ones I've got.

Jambu walking shoes really are walking shoes. A thumbs UP from TEO!

Emma Watson launches Eco Clothes

Emma Watson, Harry Potter wizard extraordinaire, is about to be part of some real magic. She has teamed up with People Tree to create a line of eco-friendly clothing for teens.
The British label is known for its ethical practices which caught Watson’s attention. “I think young people like me are becoming increasingly aware of the humanitarian issues surrounding fast fashion and want to make good choices but there aren’t many options out there,” said Watson according to InStyle.com. Take a peek at the collection.

People Tree collections are 100% organic cotton and made entirely by hand by Fair Trade groups.

MASSAGE SPECIAL!

$39 for a 1 hour massage! Come on? Tammy came highly recommended from my Dad and Susan so I decided to give it a try. My sister and I scheduled are massages back to back with a lunch date planned right after. A lot to get done before carpool duty.

The spa is housed in, well…a house. It’s not the same feel as driving up to a Spa Sydell or Chatteau Elan but once you’re inside you forget you’re in a brick ranch right off Shallowford Road.

After filling out a questionnaire on my history and needs, Tammy briefly shares her massage technique, confirms my preferences and lets me change. The room was quit peaceful enticing all my senses. Soft music, water trickling down from a table top fountain, flameless candles emitting a warm glow, and a HEATED blanket-YES!

The next hour was completely relaxing and blissful. The stress of life flowed out of every finger tip and each toe. This was thoroughly therapeutic for my cold tired winter muscles. My enter body started warming up, waking up and getting ready for spring. This was by far the best massage I’ve ever had and I’ve had some pricey ones.

At $39/hour I can see why she’s booked out two weeks in advance with some clients having standing weekly appointments. Make yours today 770-355-0808

Eco Friendly Photos

"ooo", "aahhhh", "Oh my gosh, look how big they are!" It's that season when we're about to be bombarded with an array of photos from everyone from our relatives to the co-worker we just met once in a sales meeting. What to do with all those photos once we've oohed and ahhed? Nothing my friend. Unfortunately photo paper cannot be recycled and must be relocated to the trash bin. Curses! Our family hadn't sent photos out it years and though I wanted to keep the friends and family up to date with our ever growing kids, I did not want to add to the Earth's environmental demise.

Alas an option. My solution? I printed small snapshot sized photos on our printer. Six printed on each sheet so for the 80 some odd cards we've sent so far, that's only 14 sheets of paper. They're color photos so obviously ink was used but because the photos are smaller in size (3x4) they didn't require a lot. The photos are still large enough for even Granny to see who we are.

Best of all, they are completely recyclable! This, combined with eco-friendly cards and we're sending green holiday wishes from coast to coast.

Slow Food, USA Time For Lunch Eat-In

Want to help change the food served in your child's school? Here's an opportunity to take part in a nationwide movement to get the attention of decision makers to radically improve the food served in our nation's school cafeterias.

This month venues all across America are hosting Eat-Ins or giant potlucks for us southern folk. The goal is to remind us all that real food is within our reach and to let our legislators know that while we understand budgets are tight, the food served to our kids shouldn't be on the chopping block.

The push for real food in schools was started by Slow Food USA, an educational non-profit organization. Learn more about Slow Food, USA, find an Eat-In near you or simply sign the petition. The choice is yours but please choose.

Obesity in America-where does your State rank?

The obesity rate in the U.S. is sadly and steadily climbing. There’s only one state left that can boast (if you can boast on such a thing) an obesity rate below 20%. You’re right; it’s an “outdoor state”. Colorado! No surprise. Six states including South Carolina and Tennessee weigh in at over 30%. The rest of us rank somewhere in the middle.

Speaking of the "middle", have you read your labels lately? High fructose corn syrup is in everything from fruit juice and yogurt to cereal and cough medicine.

A friend of mine was shocked when I pointed out that the pancake syrup she loves is simply various forms of sugar with coloring. “You know there’s no maple syrup in here at all, don’t you?” Silence. I’ll take that as a “no”. Apparently those maple leaves on the label are just for decoration. Read your labels, know what you buying and for the skinny on alternative and natural sweeteners read Stevia, Honey, Agave Nectar, and More.


For a full list of states and their obesity rates visit cdc.gov.

Biscuits: Whole Wheat Vegan Style

Inspired by the movie “Julie & Julia”, I decided to pull out one of my cookbooks-“Vegan with a Vengeance” by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. I passed the fist 8 recipes in this book because I don’t like tofu or texturized vegetable protein (whatever that is). We didn’t have any sweet potatoes so that took me to the 9th recipe: “Baking Powder Biscuits”.

Biscuits sounded good for the weekend and I would try mine with whole wheat flour and Earth Balance vegan oil sticks. Oops, I didn’t have any rice or soy milk, so I just used water.

The dough tasted a bit salty but before making a judgment, I’d wait to see how the biscuits turned out. At first I thought I’d never get 12 biscuits out of the dough, but I did. I just kept reincorporating the dough after I’d cut out as many as I could, re-patted it out and cut a few more. No rolling pin necessary-thank goodness b/c I don’t have one. I hate recipes that include “roll the dough out”. It always sticks no matter what. This dough didn’t!!!

12 minutes in the oven….come on, come on…

As soon as I opened the oven door, my heart sank. They didn’t rise. They just looked like tan hockey pucks. Vegan biscuits, who am I kidding. They cooled, we tried them, and I got a “they taste salty”, and “I don’t like them”. As he reached for a glass of water, my husband said, “they’re a bit mealy”. Under normal circumstances I’d reply, “BUCK up people”, but I didn’t like ‘em either.

Back to the drawing board. I was reminded later that day by one of my foodie friends at Whole Foods that baking powder has to be fresh in order to work and when baking without eggs, that’s the only thing you’re relying on to get a rise. Ah Ha! I bought a new can of baking powder and renewed my zeal.

Here we go again and this time, I cut the amount of salt, used whole wheat pastry flour and tried again.

Not bad, in fact they were good and they rose! Add some honey, eat them hot and you got it. Now, I’m not gonna lie to you, these ain’t no Paula Deen biscuits but if you want vegan biscuits or are running short on ingredients, here’s the recipe for you:

Biscuits: Whole Wheat Vegan Style
*2C whole wheat pastry flour
5 tsp fresh baking powder (hint: buy the smaller cans instead of the larger so you’ll use it before it goes bad)
*1/ 2 tsp sea salt
*5 TB Vegetable oil sticks (I used Earth Balance Vegan buttery sticks)
*2/3 C water

* denotes changes from original recipe in Vegan with a Vengeance

Preheat oven to 450˚

Sift dry ingredients in a bowl. Cut the 5 Tb of oil sticks into the dough with a pastry knife or your fingers (easy here b/c if you work the dough too much you’ll get tough biscuits. Just do this enough to incorporate the oil). Add water and gently stir until a soft dough forms. Turn it out onto a well floured surface and softly pat the dough out until it’s about ½ inch thick. Use the rim of a small juice glass or cookie cutter to cut out 12 rounds. Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake 12-15 min. Cool slightly but eat them warm. Enjoy!

© 2009 The Everyday Organic

Paris Bakery & Cafe

Eating while your traveling can be such a bore, not to mention how rough it is on your health. Pre-packaged, preserved, plastic wrapped phony food is everywhere. Two years ago my family was lucky enough to find an oasis for our hunger and we've been fans every since.

How does Quiche Florentine with fresh spinach sound? Or how about Crêpes Palermo with Prosciutto, Portobellos, and homemade Bèchamel sauce. Then there's the sandwich named after one of my favorite places, Monaco-delicious white tuna salad with fresh tomato and Swiss. Is your mouth watering? It should be. All these can be served to you daily with a glass of champagne if you choose. Only 9 in the morning? No worries da'ling, you're in Paris! Oh and don't you dare leave without fresh pastries. Eclairs, chocolate mousse, Napoleons...no one does pastries like the Parisians. Owners, Andrea & Didier Martin are delightful and will serve you with grace, charm and good fresh food!

Not traveling to France anytime soon? Fortunately this Parisian cafe is a little closer to home and if you can make it to West Palm Beach, Florida, you're in luck. The Paris Bakery & Cafe is located on Olive Avenue near City Place.

Tell Andrea & Didier we said "Bonjour".

Lowered Blood Pressure without Medication

Several months ago my husband was told during his physical that his blood pressure was high. This wasn’t total news to him as he had been monitoring it on his own for awhile. “Give me a month and I’ll focus on getting in down”. I’m sure the doctor was being as encouraging as possible when he told Rodney, “People don’t change. They eat what they want to eat”.

A month later after diligently exercising regularly, cutting back on salt and sugar, no change. Not good. This was particularly discouraging because my husband had also lost about 10 pounds over the last few months. Now the doc brings out the “big guns” and tells him he’s gotta get on meds. Being the spouse of The Everyday Organic revealed itself as my husband said “NO WAY!”

Fortunately during this time, he had heard how his Dad got his cholesterol levels in check without medication. My Father-in-Law had run into an old friend who he hadn’t seen in a while and was completely impressed with this guys overall health improvements. He asked him, “What did you do?” Among the basic changes, his friend also mentioned G.A.P pills. This wasn’t the first time my Father-in-Law had heard of these. He knows a woman who’s like 89 or somethin’ and still full of vigor and life. She takes G.A.P pills. Hmmm, there must be something to these. After three weeks of taking them, my Father-in-Law’s cholesterol was well within the normal range.

My husband was sold but…what’s in a G.A.P pill? Garlic, Aloe, and Parsley which are all known for their cleansing abilities. The other ingredients are your basic stabilizing agents. Bottle in hand, he followed the instructions given to him by The Aloe Man diligently: take 5 pills 3x day for the first 2 wks then back down to 2pills 3x day with meals (dosage may vary per person so please ask for yourself).

After a month, there was a slight lowering of his blood pressure. Still frustrated, he called and asked for more input. I assured Rodney, “It says ‘money back guarantee’. I’m sure you’re not the first person this has happened to”. He called and it was suggested to not drink more than 40 ounces of water a day because that can dilute the garlic, aloe, and parsley in your system.

He backed off the H2O and WALLAH!!!

In April his blood pressure hit it’s highest at 157/94, YIKES, then went down slightly to 148/85-better but still high. While taking the G.A.P pills his blood pressure lowered to mid 130’s over high 80’s then 129/83, 130/73, and even 125/83!!! Now, these G.A.P pills aren’t magic and certainly not a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise but there is no doubt they’ve taken Rodney’s efforts over the edge and kept him off blood pressure medication.

*If you’re already on blood pressure medicine, please use common sense and consult your physician before making any changes and as always: The information on this website is solely intended for sharing knowledge and information from the research and experiences of those at The Everyday Organic. We encourage you to make your own decisions regarding nutrition with guidance from your qualified health care professional and/or nutritionist.

UPDATE 8.3.09 In response to some of your comments and questions, I realized you may want to know a few "stats" on my husband:
43 years of age
African-American
non-smoker
Occasional glass of red wine
exercises regularly (3-4xweek)
average weight for his height
Family history of high blood pressure
Daily commuting time: 2 hrs (which can seriously effect one's BP, especially in the ATL)

By the way, this morning his BP was 127/76!

Food Inc, Fast Food Nation, Super Size Me movie trailers

Regardless of your political affiliation,age,race, social or economic status, or education; you need to get your head out of the sand (or wherever else it may be) and at least watch the trailer to one of the movies below and may I suggest not while your eating...

Food, Inc.
Fast Food Nation
Super Size Me

“PUT THAT BURGER DOWN!” is all my sister said after she saw the movie Food, Inc. My husband and I just saw it this weekend. Though we only eat, I mean ate, conventional meat on occasion at someone else’s house, we were still quite speechless. For you Everyday Organic readers, you will be encouraged to know that the suggestions they give, you have already heard. For example, reading labels and knowing what actually is in your food is something we talk about all the time. However, it certainly drives home the point even more and calls a serious label reader to take it even higher. Comments welcomed.

Tribute to Michael Jackson

The following is my tribute to Michael Jackson. I mean no disrespect by the words I write. I want to simply share with you my love for his music and appreciation for the influence he made while with us.


The spirit of Michael Jackson will live forever and it’s not just "Black or White", it’s green too. His Number Ones cd is everywhere and it rocked my world to see it’s in eco-friendly packaging. What a "Thriller"! The case is made of recycled chip board and can be recycled again making it easier to "Heal the World". Some of you are screamin, “Leave Me Alone” and others are asking where to start? Simple, with "The Man in the Mirror". But remember, "You are not Alone". So sing "Earth Song" til’ "The Break of Dawn" and if you still can’t get with being green, just "Beat It"!

If this has left you feeling "Off The Wall", email me, "I’ll Be There".

Free Groceries at Harris Teeter

My sister was paying for her groceries at Harris Teeter when the cashier said "YOU WON!". "I did?", my sister replied wondering what that meant exactly. She was speechless when told all she had to do was take the coupon and her receipt up to customer service for a full refund. Still in shock, my sister wanted to blurt out, "but I forgot some things!". All $33.24 was given back to her and if you live near a Harris Teeter, you have until June 30th for a chance to win. Good luck.

Organic Food Coupons

After watching the movie trailer for Food, Inc. you're probably ready to dig your own garden. Good for you! Until those seeds turn into something you can actually chew, you may find you still have to hit the store for a few provisions. In which case, some organic food coupons may come in handy. Check out these links:
Mambo Sprouts
Coleman Natural
Stonyfield
Organic Valley
Horizon
Seventh Generation
Cascadian Farms
Kashi
Remember every dollar we spend on items grown sustainably, consciously, and organically is a vote saying "WE WANT BETTER". Make your money heard-we don't have much these days so spend it wisely.

Food Inc., the movie

Wanna know where your food comes from? I don't mean the freezer or the fridge or even which grocery store, I mean WHERE IT COMES FROM? The answer to that question can be "yes" and then again maybe "no".

We love our leather from Italy, our watches from Switzerland, fine china from England, and French milled soap. However, do we give much thought to what we're actually putting inside our bodies. Like it or not, more and more it's seems like a pretty good idea to have a "made in..." label on our food.

If you're really interested, check out the documentary, Food Inc. But be warned, you may want to plant a garden the next day.

Museums on Us

The Museums On Us program sponsored by Bank of America is quite a hit as zoos and museums were filled this past weekend with excited patrons looking to save some money. However, we learned a few more details on how this program works.

Notes from our experience on June 6: We hit Zoo Atlanta yesterday. It was great. However, please keep in mind EACH Bank of America customer must have a picture id that matches the name on the card. In other words, taking our daughters' bank books didn’t work since they have no picture id. We were able to use our BOGO free coupon for them though and so the four of us got into the zoo for $15. SWEET! But I am gonna try to get a picture ATM card for each of their savings accounts in order to get them in free at the other museums. I don't think this was totally clear on Bank of America's website as there were ALOT of parents with ALOT of Bank of America papers trying to work the entire family in for free. No picture id that matches the name on the account-who you want to get in free, no getting in free. Seems this is the set up through the bank at all the museums. So be prepared and then have FUN!!

FREE EVENTS

“Staycations” are all the rage! While saving money is the trend, being bored in the house all summer with your kids is not! From Atlanta to Kansas City, Seattle or Chicago, here are some nationwide FREEBIES to keep you, your kids and your budget smilin’.

Free movies at Regal Cinemas or
$1 movies at AMC

Summer Reading
Borders is giving kids 12 and under a coupon for 50% off select items after they read eight books. Get the form here.

If 50% off is good, FREE is even better. That’s what Barnes and Noble has been doing for years. After reading 8 books and turning in the reading log, kids receive a free book. They can choose from a select group of age appropriate paperbacks. Get more details or print the reading log in English or Spanish.

And here comes the biggie for all you Bank Of America customers. That ATM card may not be good for getting much cash out of the box, but it can get you into 100 museums nationwide for FREE. Yes my friend, for FREE! From the de Young Museum in San Francisco, the Metropolitan in NYC, and the Miami Children’s Museum, all you have to do is flash any Bank of America card on the first full weekend of the month and you’re in! Here at home we’re hittin’ the zoo, Botanical Gardens, and Fernbank. While the offer is good for the cardholder only, I’ll be using my buy one get one free coupons at the zoo for my kids and each child has their own bank account so we might try that as well…Never hurts to ask. Ok it’s the first full weekend of the month. Find out what’s in your area!

6.7.09 Note from experience: We hit Zoo Atlanta yesterday. It was great. However, please keep in mind EACH Bank of America customer must have a picture id that matches the name on the card. In other words, taking our daughters' bank books didn’t work since they have no picture id. We were able to use our BOGO free coupon for them though and so the four of us got into the zoo for $15. SWEET! But I am gonna try to get a picture ATM card for each of their savings accounts in order to get them in free at the other museums. I don't think this was totally clear on Bank of America's website as there were ALOT of parents with ALOT of Bank of America papers trying to work the entire family in for free. No picture id that matches the name on the account-who you want to get in free, no getting in free. Seems this is the set up through the bank at all the museums. So be prepared and then have FUN!!

Cheap Summer Beauty Treats

Must Have’s for summer and they’re all under $10!

I’m kookoo for coconut! This shower gel is going to take me to the islands for as little as $9 and if you lucky, you’ll snag one of these at Marshalls or TJMaxx for half the price. Paraben-free and oh so yummy!

Saw this shell candle in a magazine and felt the sand right under my feet. Bath and Body works had me sold when I walked in yesterday and found it half off. I’ll take it. At $8.50 that adds a nice shore breeze to our bathroom.

Alba coconut lip balm. Soothe those sun baked lips and protect them without petrolatum, phthalates, parabens, or mineral oil. Alba uses 100% vegetarian ingredients and NO animal testing. The organic coconut oil smells delicious. For $3.50, this lip balm will keep your lips sun protected and smooch ready.

Those legs get quite a shaving over the summer and to keep them happy, try 100% shea butter. I’ll be honest, pure shea butter takes some getting used to. It has a nutty scent and is quite thick, but oh is it rich. Scoop a bit out then rub your hands together to soften it. Smooth it on freshly shaven legs to soothe the burn. You’ll love the healthy glow it leaves. I let the Shea butter absorb in for a few minutes before putting on pants-can be a bit sticky. This isn’t just for shaven legs so don’t be shy guys-you can use it too.

Pure shea butter can range anywhere from $5-$25 for the same size jar and everyone will tell you why theirs is better. We’ve tried several and are just fine with our $5 jar. Tips to keep in mind: shea butter should smell nutty but not rancid (I know…that one should be obvious). We buy ours from a small “mom and pop” shop and felt comfortable after talking to the owners and getting familiar with their import practices. If you feel you must go with a bigger company, go for it but know the bigger price tag comes with it.

Please note: If you are allergic to tree nuts, you should consult your physician or allergist before using shea butter as it comes from the nuts of the Shea-Karite tree.

Last but not least, good old fashion Epsom Salt. Perfect in the bath or shower for sloughing off dry skin and keeping those feet sandal ready. Epsom salt is cheap and easy to find at any super store. It also looks quite spa like in a glass jar by the tub.

There you have it. These cheap treats will keep you soft and glowing all summer long.

High Speed Blender Recipes

So you bought a high speed blender, now what? If you're like me, you have no patience for the "learning curve" and want it to be as easy as they make it look in the demo. Rest assured, you've made no mistake. Your decision to purchase a Blendtec or VitaMix was the right decision.

Though we bought ours primarily for "juicing", I do want to get more out of it. Here's a couple of recipes my girlfriend and I perfected to our liking one afternoon. Thanks Gina, it was fun!

No Cook Chocolate Pudding
4oz milk (you can use any kind you like: raw coconut milk, you're favorite nut milk or even regular 1/2&1/2 which is all I had the first time I made it so that's what we used)
1 1/2 avocados (may need 2 if they are small)
1/4 C cocoa powder-unsweetened
dash of sea salt
1/2 C Agave nectar

Pour milk in first, then add roughly chopped avocado. Add cocoa pwd, salt, and agave nectar. Secure the lid. Hit the pulse button until blended. We pulsed ~10times, then gently scrapped the sides with a rubber spatula and pulsed another 7-10. Put in dessert bowls (about 4 nice servings) or eat it right out of the blender canister like us we did.

Keep in mind you can make this a "raw" recipe by using raw milk, raw cocoa powder, and raw agave nectar.

Fraps like you know who
1C milk
3Tb sweetener/cocoa mix (Make ahead by mixing: 1C evaporated cane juice & 1/4C cocoa powder. You can store in a jar for continued use)
1 1/2 tsp instant decaffeinated coffee (MUST be instant)
2C crushed ice
Wedge of Cabbage

Start with the milk and add the rest of the ingredients. Your ice needs to come 1 inch over the liquid. Secure the lid. Select the "Whole Juice" button for one cycle. No surprise, this tastes good with or without the cabbage.

Jen's 4,3,2,1 Juice
Okay, this one's strictly for your health. I tried to make the quantities easy to remember: 4,3,2,1,1/2...(the 3 really represents 1/3 but I still remember it)
4 Kale leaves-roughly chopped
1/3 bunch of parsley
2 Celery ribs-roughly chopped
1 apple-chopped
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2C Filtered Water (may want to add 1/2c more depending on how think/thin you like it)
2tsp agave nectar (optional depending on sweetness of apple)

Use organic produce. I roughly chop everything before I add it to the blender canister. Then I pour the water over it all. Secure the lid. Select "Whole Juice" and let it complete the cycle. This works best in a larger blender canister. If you don't have a larger canister, no problem. Just divide the recipe. We store this in jars in the refrigerator to chill and enjoy within a day or two. Remember fresh juice must be consumed immediately to get the most nutritional benefit and to avoid spoiling. Bottoms up!

Free Health Screenings

Free health screenings for the uninsured or the flat out broke!

Have any suspicious bumps or moles? I know, right now all anyone can see are $$$, but our health is nothing to compromise. Thankfully, the American Academy of Dermatology sponsors free skin cancer screenings nationwide. Most screenings require an appointment and are available in May and June so please reserve your spot quickly. You can find a location in your area at the ADA website by simply typing in your state. Do not include your city for a more complete listing result. The site also includes answers to some FAQ. Have a happy and healthy summer.